Albertsons names Jim Donald president, CEO
Albertsons has named Jim Donald, its current president and COO, to the roles of president and CEO, effective immediately. Alongside Donald’s new position, the company announced that its Robert Miller, its chairman and CEO, would continue as chairman of the board.
Miller’s 57-year retail career that started when he was in high school at his neighborhood supermarket. He eventually worked his way up to the role of executive vice president of operations for Albertsons. He left the company in 1991, serving as CEO of Fred Meyer, COO and vice chairman of Kroger and CEO of Rite Aid, all before returning to Albertsons in 2006 as CEO.
“Jim is an exceptional retailer. In the seven months since he joined Albertsons Companies, he’s flown tens of thousands of miles and met personally with thousands of employees in hundreds of our stores, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and offices around the country,” Miller said. “His expertise in listening to front-line employees and customers, facilitating employee engagement and generating sales is unmatched, and there is no better leader for Albertsons Companies at this state in our evolution.”
Donald began his career at Publix. He joined Albertsons in 1976, eventually being named vice president of operations in Arizona. Sam Walton recruited him to develop Walmart’s grocery business and Superstore concept in 1991. He joined Safeway in 1994 to become senior vice president of its 130-store Eastern region. From 1996 to 2002, he was CEO of Pathmark, after which he became CEO of Starbucks. Before joining Albertsons in March 2018 as president and COO, Donald was CEO at Haggen, then Extended Stay America, where he led its $565 million initial public offering.
“Albertsons Companies is uniquely positioned to operate in both a ‘four walls’ traditional environment and the ‘no walls’ world of technology,” Donald said. “We serve 34 million customers each week across our 2,300-plus stores and serve 5.5 million patients in our 1,700-plus pharmacies. That’s a significant food, health, and wellness footprint. We’re well positioned to serve the evolving needs of today’s customer, wherever and whenever they choose to shop with us. I am looking forward to leading this dynamic company as we focus on innovation and customer-centric retailing in all its forms.”
Miller’s 57-year retail career that started when he was in high school at his neighborhood supermarket. He eventually worked his way up to the role of executive vice president of operations for Albertsons. He left the company in 1991, serving as CEO of Fred Meyer, COO and vice chairman of Kroger and CEO of Rite Aid, all before returning to Albertsons in 2006 as CEO.
“Jim is an exceptional retailer. In the seven months since he joined Albertsons Companies, he’s flown tens of thousands of miles and met personally with thousands of employees in hundreds of our stores, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and offices around the country,” Miller said. “His expertise in listening to front-line employees and customers, facilitating employee engagement and generating sales is unmatched, and there is no better leader for Albertsons Companies at this state in our evolution.”
Donald began his career at Publix. He joined Albertsons in 1976, eventually being named vice president of operations in Arizona. Sam Walton recruited him to develop Walmart’s grocery business and Superstore concept in 1991. He joined Safeway in 1994 to become senior vice president of its 130-store Eastern region. From 1996 to 2002, he was CEO of Pathmark, after which he became CEO of Starbucks. Before joining Albertsons in March 2018 as president and COO, Donald was CEO at Haggen, then Extended Stay America, where he led its $565 million initial public offering.
“Albertsons Companies is uniquely positioned to operate in both a ‘four walls’ traditional environment and the ‘no walls’ world of technology,” Donald said. “We serve 34 million customers each week across our 2,300-plus stores and serve 5.5 million patients in our 1,700-plus pharmacies. That’s a significant food, health, and wellness footprint. We’re well positioned to serve the evolving needs of today’s customer, wherever and whenever they choose to shop with us. I am looking forward to leading this dynamic company as we focus on innovation and customer-centric retailing in all its forms.”